To be honest with you, this isn’t going to be some kind of deeply worded, super intense, crazy type of thing. I’m just telling you guys about me. I will tell you the whole truth, cross my heart and hope to die. My name is Anastasia Davis. My father teaches college classes. It’s a good job, or so I hear from him. Dad teaches Latin. He loves Latin. Myself on the other hand, just no. Anyway, I’m 16 years old. I was always told I have my mother’s beautiful, long hair and brilliant brown eyes. Unfortunately, I got my dad’s hair color. My hair is soft and quite long but it’s also very red. I’m not talking about cherry red either. It’s more carrot orange than cherry red. My older brother, Jeremy, has my mother’s golden hair, but it’s insanely curly like my father’s.
I think that’s it for the whole little “about me” part. Oh, yeah. Me, my family, we can’t die. Nope. My mother, however, died giving birth to me. Her name was Carolina Davis. She’d been married to my father for six years. Dad was so sad when she died. My first few memories are with Jeremy. He’s the one that took care of me.
Anyhow, you’re probably wondering why I’m doing all of this. Sometimes you just need to write it all down. You know what I mean? Eh.
When I was seven, my dad said he wanted us to grow up where my mom did. Just outside Branson, Missouri. On my very recent 16th birthday, Dad announced he got a new teaching job at some university in Michigan. Michigan. It’s cold in Michigan. I hate the cold. But, I smiled and said congratulations to my dad. We’re on the road the next day. Since Dad told us at the last minute, he let Jeremy choose the music for the car ride. Jeremy inserted a demo CD that “his buddy, Joey, made”. It was all instrumental. No words involved. I fell asleep as we passed state lines.
Jeremy shook me awake. I opened my eyes and glanced around. He’d carried me into a motel room last night.
“How long was I asleep?” I yawned.
“Since about 5:00 last night. It’s…” He looked at him wrist. “Almost seven.”
I groaned. “When does Dad want to leave?”
“Now.” He grinned.
I got up, playfully slapping his arm. “Jeremy! Why didn’t you get me up earlier?!” I grabbed my overnight bag, snatching a baggy t-shirt and jeans from it.
Without waiting for a response, I ran into the bathroom, starting up the shower. It may seem weird, but I love hotel and motel showers. They seem to wake me up more than the ones I take at home. I showered as quickly as I could. I pulled my clothes on my still-wet body and started to brush my hair. Jeremy knocked.
“Ana! Hurry up!” He laughed.
“Shut up, you idiot! I’m trying!” I yelled, threading my fingers through my soaked hair. I pulled it into a high ponytail and brushed my teeth.
I threw the door open. Jeremy stood there, grinning. “About time, Ana.”
“Jeremy! Anastasia!”
I stiffened slightly. Dad sounded angry. Jeremy became serious. “I already packed your stuff up. Come on.”
We went out to the van. Dad leaned against it, arms crossed, glare activated. My face held no emotion. Jeremy’s was the same.
“What took so long, Anastasia?” Dad snapped.
I tilted my head down. He hated being looked in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Father. I woke up late.”
He scoffed. “Jeremy, you sit in front with me. Anastasia can sit in the back. Now we have a late start anyway.” Dad got in the driver’s seat.
Jeremy gave me a sad look as he got in. I quickly got in the backseat, staring out the window.
We passed Michigan state lines several hours later. I was still looking out the window. Dad was in a much better mood and was talking about the town we would be living in. It was a small town called Little Rapids. It was a few miles southeast of Ludington. It had one library, three gas stations, a supermarket, one high school and two universities.
It was nearing five in the evening when Dad parked the car outside a large, three story, white house. My eyes widened a bit. Wow. That had to be twice the size of our last house.
We all got out. Jeremy and Dad started unpacking the trunk. I sat down on the sidewalk. I saw a few people staring. A girl across the street. A few guys next door. They looked around my age. I frowned and decided to help Jeremy and Dad. I jogged over to my brother.
“Take this, will you?” Jeremy handed me some books.
“You’re welcome.” I smiled, walking towards the driveway. I saw the girl running towards me.
She had long golden hair. It was expertly curled into little ringlets. Her bright blue eyes studied me carefully. The girl wore a pink tank top and jean shorts.
“Hi! I’m Madelyn!” She grinned and, obviously not noticing my books, grabbed my hand for a handshake.
My books fell to the ground. I pulled my hand away. “Uh… Yeah. Hi.” I grabbed my books and ran inside.
Jeremy was already inside, dropping a box at the foot of the white, winding staircase. He grinned at me. “Race you for the best room!”
I laughed and sprinted up the stairs before he could. I faintly heard him say something about being a cheater. I ran past all the rooms and down the hall. I turned into the last room. It had an entrance to the attic. It had a simple, white double bed in the far left corner. Parallel to it was a fairly large closet. It included a mirror.
“I call this one!” I yelled down the stairs.
I calmly walked down the hall, down the stairs. We had more stuff in the car. I went outside to see a fairly frightening sight. Madelyn was flirting with Jeremy. Her blonde hair was being flipped. She shifted her weight to one foot.
“Jeremy! Come on!” I called. He ran to me.
He smiled and ruffled my hair. “Dad said we can finish up tomorrow morning.”
“Great.” I smiled.
“Just take your stuff up. Okay, kid?”
I nodded and grabbed a box labeled “Anastasia”. I lugged the box up. I was Anastasia. Anastasia always listened. Because she’s a good child.
My father never called me Ana. Only Jeremy did. We aren’t allowed to make friends. Dad said if we did, they would find out. He said when they found out, they would hate us. Then they would tell everyone.
So, since Jeremy and I were born, we were each other’s best friend. Jeremy had a girlfriend once. Her name was Karin. She actually did figure it out. She was so nice. She didn’t care. Karin said she just wanted to be with Jeremy. Jeremy misses her. Dad says she died in a fatal car accident.
He’s such a liar, it disgusts me.
It’s just Jeremy and I.
On our own.
